The first match in the morning was one of the most anticipated matches of the spectators, race aside, because they were dominating the tournament in the Student Category and showing everyone an intense battle whenever they were in the arena.

Transported on the right side of the arena, Han Jiho, wearing the attire that's used in the Obelisk Academy during the Player Physical Education, and holding the golden lightning sword with his right hand, scrutinized the Elf woman standing on the left side of the arena.

Ilsevel, wearing a green tunic, the usual combat attire for the Elves, especially for formal occasions such as this tournament, entered the black-lustered eyes of Han Jiho. That aside, he felt a sense of adoration at the physical appearance of the Elf, who possessed long white greyish hair, greenish eyes, and a lithe body with fair skin. Ilsevel was simply striking that could unintentionally capture the heart of a man, but for Han Jiho, her physical appearance was considered a bonus because, rather than that, his senses were telling him that the Elf was strong, around the same strength as Samantha Hall.

And having to experience fighting an opponent that could make him question his odds of winning was something that elated him.

After an unknown period of time, as the different cheerings of the crowd echoed, the presider of the match briefly asked them about any concerns.

Shaking both of their heads, the voice of the match presider then reverberated throughout the arena.

"...Begin-!"

***

As soon as the words of the match presider entered the ears of both of them and as the words were registered in their heads, Ilsevel, with her bare hands, suddenly disappeared from her spot as Ilsevel didn't even introduce herself just like the usual demeanor, as if it's a tradition, of the Elves whenever the start of a battle broke out in this tournament so far.

Han Jiho flinched at the seemingly unorthodox action of his opponent as he clearly remembered the other Elf participants greeting their opponents first even after the sound of the signal for the beginning of the match.

However, with his instinct, he judged that he couldn't attack offensively at the moment as he made a posture that signified a defensive stance. In less than two seconds, the standard 15-meter distance between them was covered, together with a fist that struck Han Jiho's golden lightning sword.

Bam-!

"Keuk-"

Han Jiho, although his defense was performed almost perfectly, was still pushed back for a few meters as his feet were slightly rooted in the ground of the arena. However, this distance also gave him a moment to breathe, at least that's what he thought as he felt a tingling sensation on his back as he instinctively shifted his body without looking at Ilsevel, who quickly followed up after her initial strike.

As Han Jiho dodged to the right side, almost tearing his side, he spun around with his golden lightning sword.

Slash-! Slash-

It was a quick semicircular slash, but, just as he expected, Ilsevel dodged it. But this time, it truly gave Han Jiho a space to be ready for the next attacks. Moreover, it also provided him a bit of time to scrutinize his opponent more as various thoughts surfaced in his mind.

'She's not using a weapon? Or is she excellent in barehanded combat?'

However, Han Jiho dismissed the thought since it seemed strange for an Elf to fight with just the utilization of their hands. In other words, Han Jiho thought that he was not worthy of Ilsevel's Personal Weapon to be brought out in this fight.

Han Jiho scoffed. Although he may be overthinking things, he's certain that Ilsevel that's currently gauging his capacity to fend off her attacks. But this time, he went on the offensive as he performed advanced swordsmanship, not the one that was related to his mysterious contractor.

As he managed to cover the distance between them, Han Jiho cleaved down his golden lightning sword, causing the air to be torn apart.

Bam-!

Crack-

A shockwave was produced as a cloud of smoke slightly hindered the spectators' visibility, and a cracking sound entered Han Jiho's ears.

'...What?'

As the temporary miniscule amount of smoke subsided in those few seconds, Han Jiho's expression stiffened, seeing the Elf, Ilsevel holding the blade of his sword with her only right hand.

At that moment, Han Jiho realized that he made a mistake, but it was too late as he failed to retrieve his sword in time as the seemingly effortless grip held it tight. Even though he was caught in a pinch, Han Jiho's lips slightly crept up as he saw Ilsevel's expression.

Ilsevel didn't have an arrogant or proud look on her fair-skinned face even after the feat that she just did. For Han Jiho, this was a sign that his opponent, strength, and intelligence aside, was someone that could make proper decisions despite facing an opponent. In simple terms, Ilsevel's emotional quotient was on the right track due to her extreme calmness.

Because Han Jiho couldn't let go of the golden lightning sword, he was smashed on the ground along with it.

Bam-!

"...Argh-!"

'That f*cking hurt! Is her raw strength that much?!'

He almost blurted out, but he chose to compose himself instead. A considerable amount of crimson blood leaked from his mouth due to the impact on his back, which also made him feel as though some of his bones shattered.

Lying on the arena ground, Han Jiho wasn't given a moment to recover as he saw atop him the Elf, who jumped from her spot and wanted to trample him. Unable to get back on his feet, Han Jiho rolled to the ground with his sword in his right hand, which was let go of Ilsevel earlier.

To his previous question, Han Jiho felt something, which made him think that the power that managed to smash him with ease wasn't due to mere raw strength, but something else.historical

Dodging being trampled, Han Jiho used his feet and mustered his strength to get back in a proper stance. He heard his previous spot, from where she rolled, got smashed by Ilsevel's feet.

Then, before launching a counterattack, he saw a bunch of thorns wrapped around Ilsevel's wrist, but the strange thing about it was that the aura she was emitting wasn't the usual green, light green, yellow, or orange luster that the Elves exuded. Rather than those colorful, pleasing-to-the-eyes, aura, what was screened in Jiho's eyes was a lustrous grey with an ancient atmosphere, causing him to sweat unknowingly.

Just as he wondered, an untimely System message echoed in his head, along with its contents, but, in that short amount of time, Han Jiho left an opening, which Ilsevel didn't fail to see.

"...Keuk-"

He was kicked on his abdomen, causing him to roll on the ground, inflicting minor wounds. After that, Han Jiho cursed inwardly due to the distraction that the System prompt had caused.

'F*ck! What is it?!'

He quickly checked the System messages, but the words were something that he couldn't make a meaning of.

[You are in the presence of the Abominable Nature – the dark side of nature itself.]

[Abominable Nature – a socially accepted false concept that misleads the view of some Elves about nature itself.]

[Find a way to grasp the dark side of nature to obtain a Glory Fragment.]

As he continued reading, Han Jiho frowned at the fourth or the last System message.

[Surrender the fight against the considered Abominable Nature, Ilsevel XX-]please visit

'What's with that name XX-? Is the System playing tricks on me?'

However, as if he were a slave to the System before Ilsevel could launch an attack in the amount of time that he got up from the ground, he raised both his hands and quickly told the presider of the match.

"I surrender."

After these words, he added as an act of justification for his sudden action.

"I'm pretty sure I won't win against her."

With a smile, Han Jiho bowed to Ilsevel before saying:

"It's an honor for me to have this one-sided beating."

In truth, Jiho knew himself that he had a considerable chance of winning if he fought her seriously, which he planned on doing as he realized he wouldn't win by using merely advanced swordsmanship and not a sword technique, however, because of the System, he had no choice, but to give up this moment.

***

'What a great sight to see it with my own two eyes.'

Russell Moon muttered to himself, seeing the main character he had written in his unpublished novel to be beaten up to a pulp.

In the original story, Samantha wouldn't be able to win against Ilsevel, which would make the latter face Jiho just like at this moment.

However, considering Samantha's strange knowledge about Russell himself, which caused him to suspect that Samantha, though she's not confronting him about it, knew about the circumstances of this world being something from an unpublished novel, Russell wasn't certain if this would go the same way – that Ilsevel would win if the two of them fought.

'Regardless, at least this fight happened.'

With a hairsbreadth, Russell felt glad that a possible great deviation from what he knew didn't occur.

***

'What an interesting man.'

Ilsevel, after some time as the battle between her and Jiho ended, muttered inwardly. She's sitting with the two young Elves, Tsarra and Elkhazel, who then congratulated her with proud expressions on their face, saying some things like:

– At least that human knows his place!

– Right, Elkhazel!

'...I know that he didn't go all out against me. Well, that's the same case for me, but I hope I'll get a chance to fight him again.'

Ilsevel thought as she focused on the next match in the arena.

A few seconds later, seeing the Elf and Dwarf participants, she subconsciously smiled before thinking:

'...I'll see him soon in the academy made by humans, Obelisk Academy.'

***

[Find a way to grasp the dark side of nature to obtain a Glory Fragment.]

'...Just how can I grasp something like this if I don't have the faintest idea of what the dark side of nature is...?'

Han Jiho inwardly lampooned. Just like Ilsevel, he's now sitting on the spectators' seats, at least in the section for participants.

"Oi! What the hell did you just do?!"

Anya elbowed his side, causing him to let out a groan and be snapped out of his thoughts.

"...Ah, I don't know. I'm not feeling well today."

That's all the poor excuse he could think of.

"Tsk. Then you should take a rest, why are you still here?"

Anya frowned at Jiho's words. As the former had experience in dealing with people, especially due to her father's businesses, she knew exactly if someone was lying.

The change in tone in Anya made Jiho scratch his head.

Feeling that he made a stupid decision as his trust in her seemed superficial and not yet strongly founded, Han Jiho refrained from his previous words as he opened up to her.

But his words caused soon a great misunderstanding.

"A-Anya, I think I need to befriend her."

To understand the System message, he needed to make an effort by getting close to Ilsevel.

***

During the entire El-Vul-Or Tournament, the Elven Queen, Dwarven King, and the considered strongest Human, Artorious Hall, were watching the matches alongside some of their close aids.

However, today was different as a meeting for the near future was held at the request of Artorious Hall.

After considering the benefits of telling the rulers of the Elves and Dwarves, Artorious, with the permission of other heads of the Obelisk Organization, made a decision to bring these two races on the fight against the remnant of his emotional tortutous past.

It was time for him to mobilize a search party to explore the outside territory of the Orion Continent, Elnira Kingdom, and Vulcan Kingdom.

In other words, it's time to locate and hunt the terrorist organization, Black Sky Disorder.